A recent report from the Macdonald Laurier Institute has revealed a concerning rise in sexual assaults and robberies in major Canadian cities, painting a troubling picture of urban safety. The Urban Violent Crime Report highlights that sexual assaults have surged in every city studied, with the Greater Toronto Area showing particularly sharp increases. In York Region, the sexual assault rate nearly doubled between 2016 and 2023, while neighboring Peel Region saw a 30% rise in the same period.
Sexual assault rates in Edmonton and Winnipeg topped 100 per 100,000 people, marking them as some of the most affected areas. The report also noted a continuing post-pandemic surge in violent robberies, including muggings and carjackings, which increased in all major cities except Vancouver. Winnipeg had the highest robbery rate, at nearly 306 per 100,000, far outpacing other cities.
While trends in homicide and aggravated assaults varied, Winnipeg held the grim title of Canada’s most dangerous city in 2023, with the highest murder rate. The report, based on a decade of crime data, calls for stronger sentencing guidelines for violent crimes, as experts argue that harsher penalties could help curb the rising tide of violence.